Course Descriptions
Susan J. B. Spangler

University Level

Semester/Year	Courses
SUNY Fredonia Present	English 100 English Composition A student-centered writing-workshop course in which students understand and practice various stages of the writing process; compose essays; and use writing and discussion as a means of situation themselves in a world of ideas. Emphasis as well on reading critically.
	English 209 Novels and Tales Study of long and short fiction of several kinds, including myth, fable, and realistic narrative, from a variety of places and times, and their relation to their different cultures.
	English Education 250 Literacy and Techology This course explores the theoretical and practical implications of technology for the nature of literacy and presents approaches to helping secondary students improve their literacy through the use of technology.
	English 329 Graphic Literature Exploration of the evolution, subject matters, forms, and conventions of graphic texts with emphasis on their literary form.
	English Education 356 Teaching of Writing This course is entails a study of and practice in strategies for teaching the process of writing: pre-writing, drafting, revision, editing, and publication. Includes methods of assessing and writing.
	English Education 451 Methods of English Education Principals, materials and methods for teaching English
	English Education 452 Inquiries in Student Teaching This course serves as a complement to student teaching experiences in English Adolescence Education and examines professional issues that arise in classrooms with emphasis on learner-initiated and shaped professional development.
	English Education 455/56 Tutoring Writing The course examines both the theory and practice of tutoring native English speaking students and ESL students who desire assistance with writing in their courses from across the college

	English Education 554 Teaching of Writing Study of and practice in approaches to teaching writing, with emphasis on whole language instruction. Survey of recent research in written composition and its application in the secondary classroom.
	English 590 Writing Assessment This course examines the many forms of writing assessment used in secondary English classrooms, ranging from teachers’ responses to student texts to government agencies’ methods of evaluating student writing. The course will investigate what the various forms of assessment teach us about writing, learning, our students, and our pedagogies.
Illinois State University Fall 2003 Fall 2004	English 400 Professional Seminar in the College Teaching of Writing As an Assistant Writing Program Administrator, I facilitated weekly class discussions for new writing instructors, read and responded to teaching journals, and reviewed course syllabi and assignments for each new instructor of English 101.
Spring 2003 Spring 2004 Spring 2005	English 399.09 Student Teaching Student teachers in the English Education program intern for 12 weeks during spring semester. I supervise three student teachers each spring by observing them in their classrooms, writing observation reports about my visits, conferencing with them and their cooperating teachers, and completing necessary documentation for their certification.
Spring 2006	English 297 Teaching of Writing This course examines implications of current scholarship in composition theory for teaching writing at the secondary level for pre-service English Education majors prior to their student teaching internship. Students read and discuss articles and books that foster their development as teachers of writing and language at the secondary level, complete 18 hours of clinical observation, and assemble a teaching portfolio for their professional use. Students research issues in the teaching of writing such as writing assessment, the teaching of grammar, teaching researched writing, and the integration of literature and writing in order to write a scholarly article for potential publication.
Fall 2004 Fall 2005	English 296 Teaching of Literature This course examines implications of current scholarship in literary theory for teaching literature at the secondary level for pre-service English Education majors prior to their student teaching internship. Students read and discuss articles and books that foster their development as teachers of literature and language at the secondary level, complete 18 hours of clinical observation, and assemble a teaching portfolio for their professional use. I concentrate on using my own experience in the secondary classroom to help students reflect on their current teaching practices and to help them articulate their teaching philosophies.
Fall 2003	English 246 Advanced Exposition is required for English Education majors. I encouraged students to explore issues related to secondary teaching and their current coursework. Using a workshop approach for discussing their writing, students were asked to critically reflect on their peers’ work and to lead the workshop discussion for their classmates.
Fall 2002 Spring 2003	English 101/101.10 Language and Composition I advocates a rhetorical approach to writing taught through extensive collaborative drafting, revising, and editing. Instructors emphasize critical reading and analysis. The intensive sections (101.10) allowed me to give more one-on-one attention to at-risk students with the help of undergraduate teaching assistants.
Heartland Community College Summer 2003	English 095. Writing Skills Review II continues introducing basic writing skills to students through exploration of identity issues. I used peer revision and portfolio assessment to help students understand basic concepts of the composing process.

Secondary Level

Years/School

Courses

Carlinville
High School

1997-2002

Advanced Placement English. This course followed a syllabus consistent with the recommendations of the AP program. Demanding and challenging course requirements reflected college level content and standards. Students who took this course were expected to seek college credit and/or placement from the college or university they were preparing to attend. The program surveyed British Literature and included an extensive course in rhetoric, culminating in a portfolio.

British Literature. This course was an elective for college-bound students. I planned a survey of British Literature with an emphasis on literary genres of the epic, novel, poetry, short stories, non-fiction prose, and drama.

Composition. Composition was a writing course that stressed writing topic sentences, developing unity and coherence in paragraphs, and writing essays in various rhetorical modes. Much of the polished coursework was done in the computer lab; however, students worked collaboratively to write, revise, and edit their work. Portfolios were used as the final assessment.

Basic Speech. This class focused on the study and practice of interpersonal communications as well as public speaking. Students examined how and why people communicate, how to develop effective communication skills through verbal and nonverbal codes, and how to prepare for a variety of public speaking situations. Students received hands-on instruction in selecting and researching topics, organizing ideas clearly, preparing introductions and conclusions, and selecting appropriate language techniques for rhetorical situations. Students participated in group and individual activities such as interviews and informative, demonstration, and persuasive speeches. Finally, students gained experience in listening critically and evaluating speeches.

English 9. This year-long course included an overview of study skills that would better equip students for success in high school. The literature component of the course placed a major emphasis on the elements of fiction, but also developed an appreciation and understanding of other literary genres. Students also wrote short papers including narratives and literature response essays. In addition, students completed two independent reading projects each semester (four total).

North Greene
High School

1989-1997

English 12 A. Combination of survey of English literature for college bound seniors, advanced composition and academic writing, and individualized grammar study.

English 12 B. Popular literature selection for non-college bound seniors and practical writing for business and work situations with grammar review.

English 11A. Combination of survey of American literature for college bound juniors, composition, and individualized grammar study.

English 11B. Popular literature selections for non-college bound juniors. We focused on reading and composition skills and review of grammar.

Bradley-Bourbonnais Community
High School

1986-1989

Composition. Juniors wrote short essays using collaborative methods and extensive peer revisions.

English II A/B and Honors. Sophomores studied literature in the form of drama and short stories in addition to basic grammar.